Valve-spring compressor



D Q E. E. ESSEN 1,739,391

VALVE SPRING COMPRESSOR Filed April 6, 1927 Patented Dec. 10, 1929 UNITE STATES ERIC E. ESSEN, OI BROQKLYN, NEW YORK v vE-srnnver corrransson Application filed'April 5, 1927. Serial No. 181,665.

This invention relates to valve springcompressors hav ing forked members adapted engage a valvespring or the washersup orting the same,andparticularly the type wrere- 5 in such engagement members are resilient and have a certain very advantageous and eflicient form.

The main object-of my invention is to provide valve spring compressors with a pair 0 of opposed fork members whicha-re resilient to a limited degree-and yet sufficiently rigid to hold coiled springs and their washers betweenthem by virtue of certain slight obstructions formed upon said members.

Another object is to ma'kespring gripping fork members of simple form which are readily stamped out of sheet steel and -have great strength to resist heavy spring pressures.

Further advantages and the mentioned oba jects will appear more fully-as this specification proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is .a view of a valvespring CQII1- pres sor provided with fork"members made was according to thepresent invention and disposed in proper operative position relative to a valve spring.

Fig. 2 is a view of the *lower part ,of Fig. 1 online 1-314. a

Fig. -3'isanother view of the same. Fig.4 is also a similar view. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of'one spring member of the previous views.

Fig. 6 is amodified form of the same.

Throughout the various views, the same reference numerals indicate the same parts. The first View discloses a valve spring compressor of known form, which may be termed the C clamp or bracket type of valve lifter in which a bracket 1 is provided with a rack 3 adapted to be operated by means of a lever 5. A braking or looking adjustment 4 is mounted on the bracket to set the rack at any position attained.

On the lower extremity 2 of my device, a pair of spring furcations 12 and 21 are secured at 17 and at 9, the latter being releasable by the wing nut 26. The forward extremities of the spring members at 16 and 22 are provided with a pair of correspondthe sameismounted on thestem 19 of a valve 6. 'Llhesa-i-d valve may be mounted in a cylin-v der block .7 of an engine in which it is desired to remove or grind the valves. The rack of the lifter is adapted to engage the upper part of the valve at 6, while the mentioned .flllCZttlOIlS engage the coil spring, whereuponadjustment of the lever 5 and the as part 4: will draw the bracket and the spring members upwarduntil the key 18 is exposed on the'valve stem 19.

Normally, the spring members" or furcations present the appearance seen in Fig. 3, as the sides 16 and 22 converging toward each other ata small angle, say of 7 degrees or so. In each of these sides, a pair of indentations 10 and 11 have been pressed so that they form inward detents which will tend to impede the passage of a springer washer out from between the members, especially when the same'have a converging form as mentioned. In this position, the members are suited to grip springs and washers of rela- F. tive'ly small diameter between them without being expanded apart. Naturally, when the tool is to be inserted beneath a spring, the furcationswill be sprung apart sufiiciently to allow the spring to pass the forward dees tents 11 and 11, after which the members will close in upon the spring till the sides touch the same. Once in such a position, the spring will be frictionally retained by the same detents, as the spring furcations may bemade sufficiently stiff to ofier considerable resistance to a-ny'spreading action.

The fourth view shows the relative position of the same members when a washer or coil spring of somewhat larger diameter is engaged by the detents as at 29. While the sides of the-furcations are now more open, yet the pressure of the spring members toward each other is much greater than before, and thus renders the detents eifective to retain the washer or spring. To remove the tool deliberately is relatively easy, as a direct outward pull upon the lower part of the bracket will cause the outer detents to pass the gripped part. In ordinary use, but

little outward strain is produced, insufficient to accidentally dislocate the spring furcations. They thus prevent accidental displacement of the tool from engagement with a spring but permit its intended removal. When attempting to engage an extremely large spring, the furcations may be unduly strained from bolt 9 outward. Then it is but necessary to loosen wing nut 26 to lengthen the radius of resiliency all the way back to bolt or rivet 17, the bolt still serving as a support for the furcations. I

While only two indentations at 10 and 11, and the corresponding detents 10' and 11 on part 22 are shown, I may use many more or only one on each side, and may also increase or reduce them in size, to suit the occasion, without departing from my invent-ion. On

the other hand, I may use instead of the relatively straight spring members similar to 12 and 21 in the first five views, an altered form as shown in the last view. Here the large extremity which is to be secured to the bracket is noted at 25 and is curved upward at 27, then straightened out again at 28, terminating in the outer extremity 30 which is considerably raised above the level of part 25. This form is especially useful on motors Where certain obstructions would prevent the straight form from properly reaching the valve springs, yet the same principles are present regarding the detents and the sides, and their action is the same. 1

lVhile I have shown a valve lifter of the bracket type, yet any type of device in this class can be equipped with the described springfurcations, and I am therefore not limited to their use on the particular type shown.

Iaving now fully described my invention,

I claim V 1. A valve spring compressor comprising a pair of relatively movable members, apair of corresponding spring furcations secured to one of said membershaving bulged sides and opposed spring seats, said sides being relatively straight from the bulged portions to their extremities, and, there being projecting means upon said sides to impede the passage of springs and washers from between said 7 members when gripped therebetween.

2. In a valve spring compressor a palr of opposite spring furcated members comprising each a relatively straight body having a curved portion and beyondthe same a second straight section out of line with the first and provided with a ledge upon the lower edge and with impressed detents upon the sides thereof.

3. A valve spring compressor including a pair of corresponding spring furcations having relatively straight sides provided with opposite impressed detents adapted to impede theinsertion of a coiled spring therebetween and removal of the same.

.4. A valve spring compressor including a pair of relatively movable members and a pair of resilient corresponding members secured to one of said first members having a widened section increasing the transverse distance of their sides from each other and converging from said widened section toward their extremities, said sides being relatively straight and an impressed detentdisposed upon each of said resilient members projecting toward each other.

5. A valve spring compressor including a pair of members adapted to be relatively movable to approach each other, a pair of corre sponding resilient furcations secured upon the extremity of one of said first members, provided with converging and relatively straight sides and impressed detents disposed corresponding spring gripping members having a spring seat upon each and an impressed detent projecting in relief to the same side on each member which bears the spring seat, respectively, said side being relatively unaltered in general outline by said detent.

8. In a valve spring compressor having a pair of relatively movable members, a pair of resilient spring gripping members having sides for sliding upon the opposite sides of a valve-spring without conforming therewith, there being retaining projections integrally formed upon the inner opposite faces of said sides within the outlines thereof, and corresponding spring seats disposed on said sides, and said means being secured to one of said movablemembers at the inner extremities of said resilient members.

In testimony whereofI, ERIo E. ESSEN, have signed my name to this specification this thirtieth day of March, 1927.

ERIC E. ESSEN. 

